Winter Olympics 2010

[Woodsey]

It's amazing the Canadian mens hockey team are odds against to win gold with UK bookies.  North American sports books all have them -200 (1/2).   As close a comparison with football as I can think of is imagine Brazil had hosted the world cup in 1970's with that team they had then..there's no chance they'd start odds against.  Canada have the best team they've ever taken to an Olympics and are host nation which ought to be a positive despite the pressure.  They're also using an NHL sized rink instead of an International rink (which is much bigger) which suits their style of play.  

The Russians have an awesome team, so much fire power, but they have some weakness on their blue line and in goal.  The have shown some typical stubborn national pride with their squad selection and chosen players from their KHL league instead of proven NHLers - just to show everyone their league is as good, which of course it isn't.

Sweden are defending champs, but are old now, with almost the same team that won in Turin...they're leading players are two very scary looking ginger twins.  It's a frightful sight seeing them skate down the ice - a blurry ginger apparition if you will.

The USA are going through a transitional period and have taken a very young team to the Olympics this time around.  No miracle for this team, a place lay for me.

Very much looking forward to this tournament.  Hockey is my favourite sport.  I've had a chunky bet on Canada, obviously anything can happen, but there's no way they should be odds against so one has to have faith in ones judgment here and take the plunge in my humble opinion.  Slovakia are good dark horses for a bronze too.

I've said my piece, I'll bid you good day.  There's more of this crap on my blog incidentally.

Canada perennially has an under-strength side for the World Championships due to most of their best players still being involved with the playoffs and thereby unavailable, but this looks like a full strength squad which I am looking forward to watching.

I lived in Canada for eight years, mostly in Toronto and I became a big NHL fan despite being weaned on The Leafs who must have one of the worst records in the NHL over the last thirty years or so.

I've just read up on the Canadian squad and have lumped on @ 2.4 on BF, it's an amazing price imo for what should be a penalty kick.

GO LEAFS GO ! or whatever it is they chant when the organ stops.

So are all you fellas topping up now the odds are 3.1 or have you not been inspired by the USA defeat?

[thetank]

I might get on @ 3.1

The gold medal match looks like it will be a bit of a flip.

[WarBwastard]

Canada would have won that game against the US the other night probably 9 out of 10 times.  They dominated, they just ran into an inspired goalie and for some reason played Brodeur who might have drunk a pint of Night nurse before the game - instead of Luongo. 

When they won it 2002 they were awful in the group stages, lost to Sweden, just beat Jerry 3-2 and drew 3-3 with the Czechs.  I think Canada would be quite happy to play the US again for a gold medal this time around.  Really all this does is bring the Gold medal game forward two stages to the Quarters.  Canada will play Jerry tonight and then Russia in the quarters.  3.1 for Canada to win the Gold is huge in my opinion. 

So much over reaction over preliminary games.  If you listen to the Canadian press they're slaughtering their team wondering how they can beat teams like Russia if they can't beat USA, but conveniently forgetting that already Russia have lost too - to Slovakia.

To quote Mario Lemieux when asked about the Prelims.. in 2002 - "they'll be some games and then the tournament will really start." 

[Longy]

I might get on @ 3.1

The gold medal match looks like it will be a bit of a flip.

5 or 6 way flip?

Not saying Canada a good or bad price but there are number of teams who could win this and it wouldn't be a massive surprise.

[thetank]

Yeah I'm not on.

Know hee-haw about hockey.

[WarBwastard]

I might get on @ 3.1

The gold medal match looks like it will be a bit of a flip.

5 or 6 way flip?

Not saying Canada a good or bad price but there are number of teams who could win this and it wouldn't be a massive surprise.

Pre-tournament it was really just Russia and Canada, but now they'll play each other before the medal rounds so one is going home with nothing.  Those two teams apart Sweden look the strongest, but they'll now play Canada/Russia in the Semi's.  The US did well to beat Canada, but they were dominated so bad it's hard to imagine how they won (it's a 4-3 loss also really as the final goal was after they'd pulled the goalie.)

Czechs and Slovaks look a little short to me.

How it should pan out;  

Quarters:  

Russia v Canada
Sweden v Slovakia

USA v Switzerland
Finland v Czech Repoobleek


Semi's

Canada (we hope) v Sweden
USA v Czech Repoobleek


Final

Canada v Czech Repoobleek

GOLD - Canada
Silver - Czech Repooobleek
Bronze - Sweden


So there!

[henrik777]

So Britain got knocked outta the Vancouver Winter Olympics Curling Event...

no surprise really...them scrubbing people have no training, we get all our cleaners from abroad.

Sandy

[AlrightJack]

Separated at birth?: Hazel Irvine and the hooker from Shameless

[kinboshi]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/vancouver_2010/ice_hockey/8534017.stm

Nice goal!!

[lazaroonie]

Yeah I'm not on.

Know hee-haw about hockey.

obv cant bet on things you jack shit about..

[Colchester Kev]

Curling play off just about to start ... British or Scottish ??  we will let the result decide

[thetank]

Is comedy when Steve Cram says, if you like Curling get yourself onto ffsTryCurling.com.w/ever and there are sessions all over the United Kingdom you can go along to.

Tunbridge Wells + every scottish village = all over the UK apparently.

[Colchester Kev]

Curling play off just about to start ... British or Scottish ??  we will let the result decide

Scottish, just like the women's team imo.

[WarBwastard]

Canada 4-1 up against Russia - 1st period.  

3.1 Canada to win gold before the puck drop, 2.01 now with the game not even a third of the way over.

[TightEnd]

Blew the curling when we had the hammer in the 10th.

Interesting game though, Chess on ice.